(19) Reported his good deeds.—Besides the correspondence thus carried on. these nobles strove to exalt the character of Tobiah to tne governor, while they made the enemy acquainted with all that went on. This intelligence enabled him to write the disquieting letters which Nehemiah says he was in the habit of receiving. read more
A Great Work Nehemiah 6:3 There are three thoughts in these words: a work greatness and elevation. They are exactly the three thoughts which every earnest man has about religion. They are exactly the three things which a man needs. An object a feeling that his object is worthy and a sense of height, which lifts him up, and does him good. 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.' It is so essential that you should feel the greatness and the dignity of the 'work' to which you are... read more
WISE AS SERPENTSNehemiah 6:1-19OPEN opposition had totally failed. The watchful garrison had not once permitted a surprise. In spite of the persistent malignity of his enemies, Nehemiah had raised the walls all round the city till not a breach remained anywhere. The doors had yet to be hung at the great gateways, but the fortification of Jerusalem had proceeded so far that it was hopeless for the enemy to attempt any longer to hinder it by violence. Accordingly the leading antagonists changed... read more
CHAPTER 6 1. The attempt to entice Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:1-4 ) 2. The attempt to intimidate him (Nehemiah 6:5-9 ) 3. The attempt through a false prophet (Nehemiah 6:10-14 ) 4. The wall finished (Nehemiah 6:15-16 ) 5. The conspiracy between Jewish nobles and Tobiah (Nehemiah 6:17-19 ) Nehemiah 6:1-4 . Defeated in all previous efforts to hinder the work and to do harm to the builders of the wall, the enemies made new attempts to make them cease from the work. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem... read more
FURTHER SUBTLE OPPOSITION (vv. 1-14) Chapter 5 has been practically a parenthesis in this book, for Nehemiah had to delay the building of the wall in order to deal with serious problems inside. However, this did not take a protracted period of time, for Nehemiah was firm and decisive in acting promptly for the Lord. Since the enemy had been repulsed in their efforts to stop the work of the Lord, they resorted to a more deceitful way of accomplishing their ends. They were alarmed by the fact... read more
BUILDING THE WALLS PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER (Nehemiah 1-2:8) In this book it is to be kept in mind that the previous commissions to Zembbabel and Ezra concerned only the repair of the temple at Jerusalem, and certain internal arrangements for the moral and material well-being of the people in their home towns. The walls and gates of the city, however, were still in the ruined condition in which they were left by Nebuchadnezzar after the siege. The consequences were detrimental to the people’s... read more
The Work Finished Nehemiah 6:0 WE read that Sanballat and Tobiah, and the rest of the enemies of the Jews, invited Nehemiah to a conference in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. "And I [Nehemiah] sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" ( Neh 6:3 ). Do we know what work is? Really very few people have an adequate conception of work. The difficulty which we feel in going... read more
(17) Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. (18) For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. (19) Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. That the nobles of Judah should have been in this base conduct... read more
REFLECTIONS IT is hardly possible to read this Chapter, and behold the various methods which the enemies of Nehemiah made use of to draw him from the work he had engaged in for God's glory, without immediately having our minds led forth to contemplate the still more plausible and subtle devices which Satan and his agents are unweariedly engaged in to harass and afflict the people of God. What fiery darts of temptation do they throw forth from the quiver of their hellish malice? And if at... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Nehemiah 6:17-19
(17-19) A supplementary account is here introduced, explaining the intrigues within Jerusalem to which reference has been made. read more